4 Dangerous Apps That Are Scamming You

With the growing popularity of smartphones, there are an increasing number of apps being developed for mobile devices. Knowing this, it is necessary to know which 4 dangerous apps that are scamming you. Although most of these applications are safe and useful, there are some that can be dangerous and even deceptive.

Unfortunately, it's not just the coronavirus that's out there. There are many scams being applied during this pandemic period and people need to be careful not to be deceived. One of the ways that scammers are finding to deceive people is with cell phone applications.

Fortunately, security research is carried out and malicious and lying applications that deceive their users are discovered. Therefore, this is our topic today. There are many apps with miraculous promises, and most of them are not available in the devices' official stores. See below, 4 dangerous apps that are scamming you.

Do not give permissions or download applications from strangers

Apps are an integral part of modern life. They allow us to do everything from the basics like sending messages and making calls to the advanced like watching movies and playing games. But apps can also be dangerous, especially if you're not paying attention or don't know what you're downloading.

There are many malicious apps that can infect your device with malware or steal your personal information. Some of these apps can even lock your device so that you can no longer use it. Fortunately, there are some ways to protect yourself against these types of threats.

Be careful with the permissions that applications ask for. Apps ask for permissions to access various aspects of your device such as:

• Camera 
• Microphone
• Contacts
• Stored data

It's important to check what permissions an app is requesting and assess whether they make sense for the app's purpose. Some applications may ask for permissions that are not necessary for their function and this may be an indication that the application may be trying to obtain more information than necessary. 

If you have questions about the permissions an app is requesting, research the app before granting permissions.

Uninstall these 4 apps from your cell phone

Young people are often the main target of dangerous apps that can easily scam them. Here are four such apps to stay away from:

1. Sarahah

• Sarahah is an anonymous messaging app that was designed to let people be honest with each other. Unfortunately, this app can also be used to send hateful messages and threats. Additionally, Sarahah users can easily discover other users' email addresses and other personal information, which may lead to privacy violations.

2. Kik

• Kik is an app that allows people to send text messages without revealing their phone number. But what does it mean? It means people can send anonymous messages to other people, which can lead to problems. Additionally, Kik is also a place where people can buy and sell illegal drugs, and where pedophiles can meet to arrange dates with children.

3. Dating apps

• Dating apps like Tinder, Match and Bumble are extremely popular, but they can also be dangerous. Many people use these apps to find a romantic partner, but many criminals also use them to find victims.

4. WHO App

• This app impersonates the official App of the World Health Organization (WHO). It promises to provide up-to-date information about the coronavirus, but in reality it only serves to steal users' personal data

Back up your important information and stay up to date on the latest technology news to avoid being caught off guard by new threats.

How do these apps deceive you?

People are increasingly dependent on their smartphones and, as a result, they are increasingly vulnerable to scams from malicious applications. 

Here are some tips to avoid possible future scams;

• Never download an app from an unknown website or from a link you received in an email.
• Check other users' ratings and reviews before downloading an app.
• Make sure the app is compatible with your device before downloading it.
• Only download apps from the Google Play Store or App Store.
• Read the permissions that the application requests and ensure that they are consistent with what the application promises to do.

Hackers use various techniques to trick people into downloading dangerous applications. One of the most common methods is so-called “social engineering”, which consists of creating applications that imitate popular ones, but which actually contain malware or other threats.

Another way hackers trick people is through fake ads that promote seemingly harmless apps. They may also use malicious links to redirect people to fraudulent websites that offer dangerous app downloads.